18th Chesterfield Scout Group

The Adventure Continues - since 1908

Our History

18th Chesterfield Scouts started on the 5th of March 1908 only one year after the movement was started and with the closure of 2nd Chesterfield in 1993, became the oldest running Scout group in Chesterfield.

Chesterfield District was formed in the November of 1908 with all of the Chesterfield District Groups re-registered again in 1924 and that is where our records begin. The districts web address is below...

We have records of minutes taken from 1938 onwards, with details of finances, camps and activities.

We also have some old photographs of parades and some very old books of activities and ideas.

All of this information gives us an insight into the history of the Group and also how things have changed over the years. The different activities that were done, the different challenges and the different way of life at that time. Even during the Second World War Scouting in Chesterfield continued. In the record books we have, there are mentions in the minutes of young men going to enlist to do there part. And after the war ends some of them coming back to the groups they left to continue on as Scouters.

All of this information also give us ideas about challenges and projects we can adapt into today's program as well, just to give the Scouts a basic knowledge of how Scouting life used to be. A good mix of Scouting skills mixed with modern requirements for badges and challenges helps to point the Scouts in the right direction...

All of this information we have has led us to find out we are now over the Groups 100th year of running and show no signs of stopping.

Beavers attend from 6 to 8 years old, Cubs from 8 to 10 and Scouts attend from 10 to 14 and all three groups can achieve many badges in loads of different subjects.There are also group challenges and recognized awards such as The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

You are encouraged to do as much as possible but it’s up to you to complete badges and challenges with the assistance of the Leaders.

When it first started, 18th Chesterfield was a boys only Troop, with Wolf Cubs & Scouts, but now we are a mixed Scout Group where both male and female Beavers, Cubs & Scouts attend.

We have a purpose built Hut in the grounds of the local Catholic Church, our sponsoring authority, so to speak.

However, the hut used to be very different than it is today. It was, in effect, a chicken shed with very little in the way of anything.

However, since 1990 we have been very lucky to have our very nice Scout Hut with enough room for activities, a nice office for paperwork, store room, kitchen and toilets.

We also have strong ties with a group of German Scouts - the Kreutzpathfinderbund group from Wuppertal. You can have a look at their website if you want to, and it can translate from German to English if you like the address is;

This began when one of their Leaders came over to work in a local School to teach, as he was a Scout Leader in Germany, he was invited to come along to the group and help out. From that starting point we have held several joint camps both here in the U.K. and in Holland and Germany. The most recent was Peak 2015, where we hosted a group of 25 Scouts and Leaders. That was a very enjoyable week and it gave us a chance to catch up with friends again.

So there you have it; A bit of our history. But the good thing is this; Every year that passes adds some more history to the group. Every Beaver, Cub and Scout that completes a Challenge, Badge or Award adds to that history. Why not try it yourself?

You can come along and have a go if you like, however for the Beavers there is a waiting list.